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Are specialty shows worth it for stations?

Either radio is meant to be an over-the-air version of Spotify, or it isn't.

Either radio is meant to provide something of interest to the listener, or it's just meant to be background music a-la department store "radio", where there are no such things as DJs or specialty shows.

It can be both. It doesn't have to be one or the other. It depends on the format and the market. You don't need to have every station doing the exact same thing. People want choices, and that's what radio provides.
 
With the way some forecasts and projections are going, that value might be in peril quicker than we think:

Wow, looks like TV is aging out faster than baseball or AM radio.
 
This article, and others similar, create something of a dichotomy that doesn’t exist in fully the same way to consumers. It reminds me of the “radio vs” type articles, when radio is a more general term now that includes content delivered through multiple methods.

And of course the economics matter to those whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to advertising revenue. But take that away for a moment and look at the user experience. Does it matter if my family watched Parks and Rec on NBC or Netflix (or wherever the heck we watched it)? It’s a TV show to us. Pre Netflix and the like, we made heavy use of the on-demand services through our provider. That we now go to an app through the box is somewhat meaningless. We’re still watching a TV show. And yes, I understand the “non traditional” content on the likes of TikTok et al.

Milestones like this may be more meaningful to those on the “inside.” They’re kind of minor background noise at best to those not directly invested in it, or, with no offense intended, to those interested to a far greater degree than “average.”
 
This article, and others similar, create something of a dichotomy that doesn’t exist in fully the same way to consumers. It reminds me of the “radio vs” type articles, when radio is a more general term now that includes content delivered through multiple methods.

And of course the economics matter to those whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to advertising revenue. But take that away for a moment and look at the user experience. Does it matter if my family watched Parks and Rec on NBC or Netflix (or wherever the heck we watched it)? It’s a TV show to us. Pre Netflix and the like, we made heavy use of the on-demand services through our provider. That we now go to an app through the box is somewhat meaningless. We’re still watching a TV show. And yes, I understand the “non traditional” content on the likes of TikTok et al.

Milestones like this may be more meaningful to those on the “inside.” They’re kind of minor background noise at best to those not directly invested in it, or, with no offense intended, to those interested to a far greater degree than “average.”
Sometimes it "feels" a bit different to watch a show on a certain platform though. If parks and rec were on disney plus or hbo max, to me it would have a slightly different "feel" than on netflix or peacock, or if was on maybe nick at nite or something based on brand association.
 
It night to you, but it’s the same show wherever it is. Audiences want the content, and where they find it isn’t remotely the most important criteria.
 
One truly awful specialty show is "throwback 2k with chris cruz." Some of the music I cant imagine anyone clamoring for like yeah 3x by chris brown, party like a rockstar, we r who we r by kesha, and several other truly awful old songs! Its on audacy hot ac stations, but sounds hideous!
“One truly awful specialty show…”

That’s a pretty bold statement. (And you’re assuming their target demo doesn’t want to hear Shop Boyz and Ke$ha - you’d be surprised, they actually do. Care to say that to the host and the person who heads the show’s syndication company (who I know personally)?)
 
One truly awful specialty show is "throwback 2k with chris cruz." Some of the music I cant imagine anyone clamoring for like yeah 3x by chris brown, party like a rockstar, we r who we r by kesha, and several other truly awful old songs! Its on audacy hot ac stations, but sounds hideous!
I'm guessing you are posting from a smartphone or a tablet. Can I ask a favor of you that will make your posts more readable? Please punctuate and capitalize and maybe even put song titles in quotes just like you did with the show name?

You make some really interesting observations that are at times contrarian to what radio people think, and that makes this board all the more interesting.
 
“One truly awful specialty show…”

That’s a pretty bold statement. (And you’re assuming their target demo doesn’t want to hear Shop Boyz and Ke$ha - you’d be surprised, they actually do. Care to say that to the host and the person who heads the show’s syndication company (who I know personally)?)
Thats the only time I hear those songs are during that show. 2000-2012 had much better pop music than is represented there. If I did say it to either one, I'd give constructive criticism as to how I would personally improve the show. How do you know they want to hear it?
 
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I'm guessing you are posting from a smartphone or a tablet. Can I ask a favor of you that will make your posts more readable? Please punctuate and capitalize and maybe even put song titles in quotes just like you did with the show name?

You make some really interesting observations that are at times contrarian to what radio people think, and that makes this board all the more interesting.
I indeed do post from a smartphone...will keep that in mind!
 
Here's a sample hour for what I'd come up for Throwback 2K:

I Gotta Feeling-Black Eyed Peas
The Remedy-Jason Mraz
Toxic-Britney Spears
Lips of an Angel-Hinder
Whatever You Like-T.I.
Love Song-Sara Bareilles
Where'd You Go?-Fort Minor
Tik Tok-Kesha
Home-Daughtry
Genie in a Bottle-Christina Aguilera

This would be much more "balanced" and would amount to a much better listening experience to everyone who tunes in.
 
Research. Literally continuous research.
Those specific songs aren't played anywhere else though. Tik Tok is still in rotation, but We R Who We R is not and Party Like a Rockstar isn't heard on any CHR. Songs like Move Along by All American Rejects and Sexyback by Justin Timberlake are still heard, and that's what the show should revolve around.
 
Those specific songs aren't played anywhere else though. Tik Tok is still in rotation, but We R Who We R is not and Party Like a Rockstar isn't heard on any CHR. Songs like Move Along by All American Rejects and Sexyback by Justin Timberlake are still heard, and that's what the show should revolve around.
But, that your opinion based on your personal tastes in music, and a seemingly obsessive focus on individual artists or songs. Your personal taste is not considered audience research, nor is it indicative of a much larger potential audience.
 
Those specific songs aren't played anywhere else though. Tik Tok is still in rotation, but We R Who We R is not and Party Like a Rockstar isn't heard on any CHR. Songs like Move Along by All American Rejects and Sexyback by Justin Timberlake are still heard, and that's what the show should revolve around.
Whenever I’ve listened, the latter songs you mentioned are what the show revolves around. But it’s also augmented with forgotten hits that, again, research has shown that the most listeners want to hear.
 
Whenever I’ve listened, the latter songs you mentioned are what the show revolves around. But it’s also augmented with forgotten hits that, again, research has shown that the most listeners want to hear.
Every time I tune in it sounds like an "oh wow" club hit from mostly the late 00s/early 10s which I would think would have very few true fans. I am a fan of dance/EDM music and I don't like that dreck.
 
What music does the radio play that you can't get elsewhere? Are stations going that obscure?
It's not that you can't. It's that you wouldn't. I hear songs all the time on online radio and most do have YouTube videos, but that doesn't mean I would think about the song and look for that video without hearing it first.

Songs I haven't heard in a long time are an "Oh, wow" moment.
 
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